FAU: Buy, Kiffin signed a long tern contract. I doubt he stays for the duration of it, but he will be there next season. Of course with him a scandal could always break out.

FIU: Buy, Davis is building that program the right way. What a great recruiting class this year. FIU should be a solid bowl team in 2018, but I'm mostly buying for 2019 and after, when I think they could be fighting for the conference title.

North Texas: Buy, In fact, I'd buy the entire athletic department right now. Every UNT Program is preforming better under our new AD. But, we still need better defense.

MTSU: Buy, MT finished 4-1 after Stock returned from injury, and Stock returns for his senior year in 2018. I think they have the best chance of challenging FAU for the East.

UAB: Buy, great first season back from the dead. Clark is a solid coach.

Louisiana Tech: Hold, the Dawgs seem to be regressing, but still expect them to be a good bowl team next year.

Southern Miss: Hold, I don't think USM has their QB of the future right now, but they should be a good bowl team.

ODU: Hold, 2017 saw a big drop off from their 2016 10 win season, but I think they could be a .500 team in 2018.

Western Kentucky: Sell, Finished the year by losing 5 of there last 6 games, and only beat the lower preforming teams in C-USA. Although they signed a great recruiting class I don't see enough to change their direction next season.

Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Rice: Sell, I like the hire, but I think Rice will need a season or two before they become competitive in the West.

UTSA: Sell, Lots of changes on their coaches staff. Some needed to go, and some were poached away. I don't think Wilson can hit on all of those new hires.

UTEP: Sell! Don't like the coaching hire, and right now they don't appear to have a recruiting class. I think they need immediate help in almost every area.

Charlotte: Sell!!! What a mess. Their coach should have been shown the door like Kugler and Bailiff. Now I feel their AD needs to go too.

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

Here's what I'll think about doing, and if I do, I'll start a thread. I will look at the teams and assign a value between 1 and 10 for each team going into 2018. Anyone who wants to play will be given 100 points to invest in the teams however they see fit (whole shares only). It really won't matter what values I assign, even though I will try to be logical with it, because every one will have the opportunity to look for value with their buys. For example, if I assign a 4 to WKU their fans shouldn't be mad if they think they will win 8 next year, it just creates a buying opportunity.

The final score will be the number of wins multiplied by the number of shares you own in each team.

So, are we going to do this one this year? Banker?

Yes. I put it together and roll something out in early August, if not sooner.

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

If you took the time to look at the date of my post, you would notice it was at the beginning of January. A month before national signing day. Marshall was not finished recruiting, and at that time the class wasn't ranked well.

As for my opinion of selling Marshall... FAU is the clear favorite and some of other programs in the east seem to be improving quickly. MT is a dangerous team with Stock taking the snaps, and this is his senor season. ODU brings back a solid O-line, their QB & RB, and they bring back a solid front seven on defense.

Marshall finished the season going 2-4 down the stretch, and you need to replace your QB. Marshall did finish with a great recruiting class. Maybe some of those recruits will see the field and make an impact, but in C-USA it seems teams are only as successful as their quarterbacks. I think Marshall has a big question mark at that position. I will stick to my original opinion and sell Marshall in 2018.

FAU: Buy, Kiffin signed a long tern contract. I doubt he stays for the duration of it, but he will be there next season. Of course with him a scandal could always break out.

FIU: Buy, Davis is building that program the right way. What a great recruiting class this year. FIU should be a solid bowl team in 2018, but I'm mostly buying for 2019 and after, when I think they could be fighting for the conference title.

North Texas: Buy, In fact, I'd buy the entire athletic department right now. Every UNT Program is preforming better under our new AD. But, we still need better defense.

MTSU: Buy, MT finished 4-1 after Stock returned from injury, and Stock returns for his senior year in 2018. I think they have the best chance of challenging FAU for the East.

UAB: Buy, great first season back from the dead. Clark is a solid coach.

Louisiana Tech: Hold, the Dawgs seem to be regressing, but still expect them to be a good bowl team next year.

Southern Miss: Hold, I don't think USM has their QB of the future right now, but they should be a good bowl team.

ODU: Hold, 2017 saw a big drop off from their 2016 10 win season, but I think they could be a .500 team in 2018.

Western Kentucky: Sell, Finished the year by losing 5 of there last 6 games, and only beat the lower preforming teams in C-USA. Although they signed a great recruiting class I don't see enough to change their direction next season.

Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Rice: Sell, I like the hire, but I think Rice will need a season or two before they become competitive in the West.

UTSA: Sell, Lots of changes on their coaches staff. Some needed to go, and some were poached away. I don't think Wilson can hit on all of those new hires.

UTEP: Sell! Don't like the coaching hire, and right now they don't appear to have a recruiting class. I think they need immediate help in almost every area.

Charlotte: Sell!!! What a mess. Their coach should have been shown the door like Kugler and Bailiff. Now I feel their AD needs to go too.

really?

Yeah no doubt, didn't do his homework on the recruiting end lol doc is always in the top 3 in recruiting lol

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

If you took the time to look at the date of my post, you would notice it was at the beginning of January. A month before national signing day. Marshall was not finished recruiting, and at that time the class wasn't ranked well.

As for my opinion of selling Marshall... FAU is the clear favorite and some of other programs in the east seem to be improving quickly. MT is a dangerous team with Stock taking the snaps, and this is his senor season. ODU brings back a solid O-line, their QB & RB, and they bring back a solid front seven on defense.

Marshall finished the season going 2-4 down the stretch, and you need to replace your QB. Marshall did finish with a great recruiting class. Maybe some of those recruits will see the field and make an impact, but in C-USA it seems teams are only as successful as their quarterbacks. I think Marshall has a big question mark at that position. I will stick to my original opinion and sell Marshall in 2018.

that QB that we have to replace.......was the reason we went 2-4 down that stretch. Again u make no sense. Who cares though, blow the whistle and play some ball, most of you are just pimping your school anyways.

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

If you took the time to look at the date of my post, you would notice it was at the beginning of January. A month before national signing day. Marshall was not finished recruiting, and at that time the class wasn't ranked well.

As for my opinion of selling Marshall... FAU is the clear favorite and some of other programs in the east seem to be improving quickly. MT is a dangerous team with Stock taking the snaps, and this is his senor season. ODU brings back a solid O-line, their QB & RB, and they bring back a solid front seven on defense.

Marshall finished the season going 2-4 down the stretch, and you need to replace your QB. Marshall did finish with a great recruiting class. Maybe some of those recruits will see the field and make an impact, but in C-USA it seems teams are only as successful as their quarterbacks. I think Marshall has a big question mark at that position. I will stick to my original opinion and sell Marshall in 2018.

If you monitor CUSA recruiting every year, you'll notice that Marshall pulls in most of their recruits near signing day and typically finishes stron.

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

If you took the time to look at the date of my post, you would notice it was at the beginning of January. A month before national signing day. Marshall was not finished recruiting, and at that time the class wasn't ranked well.

As for my opinion of selling Marshall... FAU is the clear favorite and some of other programs in the east seem to be improving quickly. MT is a dangerous team with Stock taking the snaps, and this is his senor season. ODU brings back a solid O-line, their QB & RB, and they bring back a solid front seven on defense.

Marshall finished the season going 2-4 down the stretch, and you need to replace your QB. Marshall did finish with a great recruiting class. Maybe some of those recruits will see the field and make an impact, but in C-USA it seems teams are only as successful as their quarterbacks. I think Marshall has a big question mark at that position. I will stick to my original opinion and sell Marshall in 2018.

that QB that we have to replace.......was the reason we went 2-4 down that stretch. Again u make no sense. Who cares though, blow the whistle and play some ball, most of you are just pimping your school anyways.

Well, Chase Litton is now playing in the NFL (Chiefs), so there are probably some other reasons Marshall finished 2-4 down the stretch last season too.

QB's are the hardest position to replace. For the most part C-USA is a QB league. As a teams QB goes, so goes a teams offense. I think Marshall will have a good defense, but I'm not sold on Marshall's QB situation.

FAU has proved they can get it done, bring back a lot of talent, and have the option of a Florida State and Oklahoma QB to run Kiffin's system. MT has Stock back for his senior season. MT can beat anyone in C-USA (except FAU) when Stock is healthy. ODU brings back Williams. Last season, that kid put up some impressive numbers for a freshman QB. This is the reasoning behind my opinion.

(07-09-2018 10:04 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Well, Chase Litton is now playing in the NFL (Chiefs), so there are probably some other reasons Marshall finished 2-4 down the stretch last season too.

Joe, I think saying that Litton is now playing in the NFL is somewhat of a stretch. Yes, he signed as an undrafted free agent, but there is certainly no guarantee that he will make the 53 man roster -- or even the taxi squad. He has a hard row to hoe, and right now it's likely that he is nothing more than a body to get reps with the third teamers during training camp.

(01-01-2018 08:58 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: Marshall: Sell, Yes they won their bowl game but the finished the season 2-4, and their recruiting class was ranked 13th in C-USA.

Either you are pulling things that are wrong out of your rear or you enjoy making up things that are totally inaccurate without doing a 30 second check on either recruiting service. Remind me to never hire you to do research or put statistics together.

Marshall has never ranked that low in a recruiting class, not even from 2005-2012 or even in 2007-09 when they were at 65 scholarships. The lowest we went was 6th then. Depending on what service you look at we were either ranked 1st or 2nd in CUSA recruiting last year. Just so you know ODU was ranked 13th at 247 last year and UTEP was 13th on Rivals.

Marshall has everyone back on the OL that gave up a total of 8 sacks last year which ranked 2 in the country. The only team to give up less sacks was Georgia with 7. We also return almost everyone on the defense and will add a few higher rated players to replace those we lost with guys like RS Freshman LB Darius Hodge (Ranked 17th best LB in 2017), RS Junior LB Donyae Moody (Medical RS last year, Juco), and RS Freshman DE Koby Cumberlander (Raked 21 DE in 2017).

Whoever takes over for Chase Litton will be decent. If it be Isiah Green (RS Freshman 6'2 211, Fairburn GA) or Alex Thomson (Grad Transfer 6'6 242 Wagner College). Green looked good in the spring and Thomson is now on campus and will battle him in the fall for the starting QB job. The thing is Marshall has the talent where the QB will just have to manage the game until they are comfortable in the system.

Marshall also has a new OC in Tim Cramsey and DC in Adam Fuller. Cramsey comes to Marshall from Sam Houston State. SHSU had the #1 offense in IAA last year and the highest scoring at 44.8 points per game. Fuller has been on the Marshall staff since 2013 and was the LB coach, he takes over for Chuck Heater. Fuller was the DC at UTC in 2012 and had the Moc's defense ranked 6th in IAA.

If you took the time to look at the date of my post, you would notice it was at the beginning of January. A month before national signing day. Marshall was not finished recruiting, and at that time the class wasn't ranked well.

As for my opinion of selling Marshall... FAU is the clear favorite and some of other programs in the east seem to be improving quickly. MT is a dangerous team with Stock taking the snaps, and this is his senor season. ODU brings back a solid O-line, their QB & RB, and they bring back a solid front seven on defense.

Marshall finished the season going 2-4 down the stretch, and you need to replace your QB. Marshall did finish with a great recruiting class. Maybe some of those recruits will see the field and make an impact, but in C-USA it seems teams are only as successful as their quarterbacks. I think Marshall has a big question mark at that position. I will stick to my original opinion and sell Marshall in 2018.

that QB that we have to replace.......was the reason we went 2-4 down that stretch. Again u make no sense. Who cares though, blow the whistle and play some ball, most of you are just pimping your school anyways.

Well, Chase Litton is now playing in the NFL (Chiefs), so there are probably some other reasons Marshall finished 2-4 down the stretch last season too.

QB's are the hardest position to replace. For the most part C-USA is a QB league. As a teams QB goes, so goes a teams offense. I think Marshall will have a good defense, but I'm not sold on Marshall's QB situation.

FAU has proved they can get it done, bring back a lot of talent, and have the option of a Florida State and Oklahoma QB to run Kiffin's system. MT has Stock back for his senior season. MT can beat anyone in C-USA (except FAU) when Stock is healthy. ODU brings back Williams. Last season, that kid put up some impressive numbers for a freshman QB. This is the reasoning behind my opinion.

If you believe there was another reason, you didn't watch any of the losses Marshall had. He accounted for turnovers that cost Marshall almost every loss.

clt reminds you Value-add investment is an intriguing, timeless concept. As long as properties age and market conditions change, opportunities to harvest new revenue and drive value will continue. The current environment of rapid rent growth and low interest rates has benefitted value-add investors. Going forward, as rent growth stabilizes and interest rates increase, value-add success will become increasingly dependent on investors' market awareness, ability to adapt, and adherence to a disciplined strategic plan.

Here's what I'll think about doing, and if I do, I'll start a thread. I will look at the teams and assign a value between 1 and 10 for each team going into 2018. Anyone who wants to play will be given 100 points to invest in the teams however they see fit (whole shares only). It really won't matter what values I assign, even though I will try to be logical with it, because every one will have the opportunity to look for value with their buys. For example, if I assign a 4 to WKU their fans shouldn't be mad if they think they will win 8 next year, it just creates a buying opportunity.

The final score will be the number of wins multiplied by the number of shares you own in each team.

So, are we going to do this one this year? Banker?

Yes. I put it together and roll something out in early August, if not sooner.

What method are you using to assign values to each team?

I will explain when I put it up, but honestly it really doesn't matter. Everyone will have the opportunity to evaluate the cost of each team and seek out their own value proposition. That's where the skill/strategy will play in to it.

UAB: HOLD. The Blazers had a disappointing bowl game appearance after a really good year in 2017. But the "element of surprise" is lost for the Blazers. UAB won't sneak up on anyone in 2018. However, OOC games against Savannah St, Coastal and Tulane sets the Blazers up for an easy 3-0 start. This should position UAB to win 7 or 8 games easily.

Charlotte: SELL. As Mortimer Duke said in the movie "Trading Places", SELL, SELL, SELL! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDI6SEIzwNM Who knows what's going on in the halls of the Charlotte AD's office. Does this basketball school know they play football too? Much respect for their basketball history, but football there is a puzzle.

FIU: HOLD. Another bad bowl appearance after a very good (8-4) regular season. IMO, expect a similar performance from FIU in 2018, or possibly even a small downturn (7-5?).

FAU: BUY. People bought this stock throughout the 2017 season after Lane Kiffin was hired. And it produced. Problem is, expectations are so high for this program, the stock may take a rest. Can this stock go higher in 2018? Maybe. But probably not. I expect a 2-2 start, and a 9-3 or 8-4 finish for FAU. Still, FAU is a great investment as long as Lane Kiffin is there.

Louisiana Tech: BUY. As one of the previous posters said, "no spectacular gains expected". Well, I agree. That's when you want to buy. Remarkably, LA Tech's stock is terribly undervalued despite one of the best returning (and most experienced) rosters and 4 consecutive bowl wins, including a Frisco Bowl smack down of the AAC's SMU. Expect Tech to pay solid dividends throughout the year, capped by a 8-4 finish and its' 5th consecutive bowl win.

Marshall: BUY. Yes, there will be big fluctuations in this stock price if last year is any kind of guide. But when Marshall shows up, the Herd can show up big. After a 4-4 start due to a tough schedule, Marshall finishes 8-4 and gets a bowl.

MTSU: HOLD. After a 3-3 start, MTSU hangs on for a 6-6 or 7-5 finish.

North Texas: SELL. You better sell this stock while you can. This is the classic over-heated stock. By their standards, UNT had a great season in 2017, even though they experienced two blowout losses to end the season. The bowl game loss to a Sunbelt team was difficult to stomach. Take your cash and run to door on this one.

ODU: SELL. I don't understand why ODU is faltering so badly, but they are. Unfortunately I don't see a turn-around in 2018.

Rice: BUY. Another stock that's beat down, so it may be a good time to buy. The new head coach will make a difference at Rice. At worst, Bloomgren gets his new team to 3 or 4 wins vs last years 1. So, even if its a "dead cat bounce", he will look like a hero to the Rice faithful in 2018. Since Rice's stock is hated by investors right now, it's available at a fire-sale price. But the risk is low, and that makes it a good time to buy and expect some good upside in 2018.

Southern Miss: HOLD. Might be a long year in Hattiesburg. I just don't think their coach is "the guy" for this program in the long run.

UTEP: SELL. I don't like this coaching hire at all. Too much rebuilding involved to buy this stock right now. Maybe next year.

UTSA: HOLD. I thought UTSA was on the upswing, But now I'm not so sure. And with the loss of their QB and some top receivers, the offense could struggle thru the first 6 games or so. UTSA's coach is still good though, so they likely make a bowl.

Western Kentucky: SELL. Could this team be better than some people expect in 2018? Maybe. But I can't see this team getting by FAU, Marshall and MTSU in the east.